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Poll shows Aussies want coal phase out and stronger emission cuts

Bioenergy International

Policy

April 1, 2018

According to national polling released by The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy programme, only 25 percent of Australians believe that the country is on track to meet its international commitment. A majority of respondents, 58 percent, believed that Australia should increase its ambition on cutting emissions and 60 percent support Australia phasing out coal power by 2030.

Australian fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are on the rise again according to data from the Australia Institute.

According to The Australia Insititute, an independent think-tank specialised on social, economic and environmental researchInstitute, emissions have increased for three years in a row since the repeal of the carbon price and energy emissions are now at record highs, as revealed by its December 2017 National Energy Emissions Audit.

The poll, which was carried out on December 5-7, 2017, by the Climate & Energy programme of The Australia Institute, suggests that only 25 percent of Australians believe the country is on track to meet its international commitment.

A majority of respondents, 58 percent, believed that Australia should increase its ambition on cutting emissions and 60 percent support Australia phasing out coal power by 2030. In addition:

60 percent supported Australia joining other nations in committing to phasing out coal power by 2030. Only 22 percent opposed.

58 percent said Australia should increase its ambition on cutting emissions. 25 percent said Australia should not increase its ambition.

44 percent said Australia is not on track to meet its 2030 emissions target, while only 25 percent said it is on track. 31 percent said they don’t know.

This polling shows that Australian’s think our emissions targets are too low, and they don’t believe we’re going to reach even our low targets. The strong majority support for phasing out coal power shows how far the community is ahead of the government on climate change. The government’s weak targets and coal addiction risks making Australia a climate pariah, as well as missing out on the jobs and investment that the global renewables boom. And this runs directly against what the Australian public wants, said Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director of The Australia Institute.